On Tuesday, February 22 2022 a consortium of 26 CSOs embarked on a peaceful direction-action activity demanding an assent of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 by the President.
Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) was glad to have participated in an electoral revolutionary process which led to a new dimension in Nigeria’s electoral system as President Mohammadu Buhari assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 into law.
The electoral amendment bill contains many progressive provisions that will not only facilitate free, fair, and credible elections but also facilitate an INCLUSIVE and Accessible election. Section 54(2) among other provisions enshrined in the amended bill guaranteed the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s election by mandating the electoral body make provision of assistive devices that will aid Persons with Disabilities enjoy fully independent and sacred ballot voting.
Section 54 (2) reads “The Commission shall take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with disabilities, special needs and vulnerable persons are assisted at the polling place by the provision of suitable means of communication, such as Braille, large embossed print, electronic devices, sign language interpretation, or off-site voting in appropriate cases”.
Deploying the Braille ballot guide during elections will aid blind voters who are able to read braille, be assured of the choice party they are thumbprinting on. Deploying magnifying glasses will cushion the low vision or stressed-view challenges, voters with Albinism experience while tracing their choice candidates’ party on ballot sheets. The electoral body is at liberty to position the ballot box and the voting cubicle where voters with physical disabilities can comfortably partake in the voting process. The commission will provide sign language interpreters in appropriate cases to carry deaf voters along.
Signing this bill into law is indeed a transfiguration in Nigeria’s elections and a growth in a democratic process. The vision of attaining an independent voting process for citizens with disabilities is now a reality.
In a press release signed by the Executive Director, IFA, Grace Jerry, the group commended the President for activating a fresh dimension in Nigeria’s elections.
“We salute the National Assembly for working tirelessly to ensure the bill was reworked and passed on time to the President for assent, we commend the doggedness and resilience of the community of Civil Societies in ensuring signing of the Bill become a priority, we reverence Nigerians, especially citizens with disabilities for their participation in the transformation process since inception, the media communities for being steadfast in the entire process and lastly, we acknowledge our partners and allies for being supportive”.
“As our mantra entails ‘Leave no one behind’, IFA shall continue her engagements with the electoral body to ensure provisions of this bill are honored until citizens with disabilities experienced an inclusive, accessible and independent voting process in Nigeria’.
“Congratulations Nigeria, May Democracy Succeed!”
